On a map, Orange County's dozen or so unincorporated communities resemble the missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle--jagged, meandering chunks of suburbia that, for reasons ranging from fierce community loyalty to a love of horses, have remained outside any city's limits. For years, many residents fought to preserve this separateness, which they believe fosters a small-town atmosphere. To them, it is also a source of pride and comfort. But times are changing.

The new general manager of this unincorporated community says her position in working with the directors of the Community Services District will be like a dance. Their job will be to lead policy, and hers to carry out the steps. If they can keep the rhythm and are good partners, it will benefit the community's approximately 3,600 residents. "We want to make sure we're all hearing the same music," said Susan Williams, whose new job is similar to that of a city manager.

The new general manager of this unincorporated community says her position in working with the directors of the Community Services District will be like a dance. Their job will be to lead policy, and hers to carry out the steps. If they can keep the rhythm and are good partners, it will benefit the community's approximately 3,600 residents. "We want to make sure we're all hearing the same music," said Susan Williams, whose new job is similar to that of a city manager.

To encourage citizen activism in the county-run island, the Rossmoor Community Services District on Wednesday formed two advisory commissions and named 14 residents to the boards. The commissioners to oversee Parks & Recreation are Jerry Hirsch, Lucy Hunt, Tim Kadletz, Lisa Mais, John Paulson, David Steele and Jan Trojan. Residents named to the Tree Review Board are Phil Felando, Mary Beth Ives, Jim Johnson, Shirley Kirkpatrick, Floyd Martin, Melissa Parris and Amelia Reinking.

Tired of disputing responsibility for the crumbling Rossmoor Wall, the city of Los Alamitos decided it would be easier to kick the wall out of town. So it did. This week, the City Council directed its staff to move the city limits 18 inches to the east, to ensure that the five-foot brick wall that snakes around homes in unincorporated Rossmoor is no longer its concern. The wall, it seems, needs about $100,000 worth of repairs since the Landers and Northridge earthquakes.

Seal Beach officials plan to request an official ruling declaring that the city is not responsible for repairing the deteriorating Rossmoor Wall. Following a similar request by Los Alamitos officials, the Seal Beach City Council voted Monday night to begin proceedings through the Local Agency Formation Commission at a cost of about $7,000. The LAFCO ruling would adjust existing boundary lines and remove Seal Beach from the area where the wall meanders into the city.

When a 100-foot section of brick wall around this community crumbled during an earthquake last summer, it tumbled into a political no-man's-land. The key question is: Who owns the wall? Nobody, it seems. Neither the county nor the Rossmoor Community Services District will claim responsibility for the wall surrounding this unincorporated community of about 10,000.

To encourage citizen activism in the county-run island, the Rossmoor Community Services District on Wednesday formed two advisory commissions and named 14 residents to the boards. The commissioners to oversee Parks & Recreation are Jerry Hirsch, Lucy Hunt, Tim Kadletz, Lisa Mais, John Paulson, David Steele and Jan Trojan. Residents named to the Tree Review Board are Phil Felando, Mary Beth Ives, Jim Johnson, Shirley Kirkpatrick, Floyd Martin, Melissa Parris and Amelia Reinking.

It is an island of unincorporated land in a sea of cities, a distinctive neighborhood that seems to define suburbia with its customized homes set back from the street by large expanses of well-tended lawns. It is Rossmoor, the largest developed community in North County not included in any city's boundaries. Nestled between Seal Beach and Los Alamitos on the border with Los Angeles County, the 30-year-old community has managed to hang on to something it considers important--its own identity.

Seal Beach officials plan to request an official ruling declaring that the city is not responsible for repairing the deteriorating Rossmoor Wall. Following a similar request by Los Alamitos officials, the Seal Beach City Council voted Monday night to begin proceedings through the Local Agency Formation Commission at a cost of about $7,000. The LAFCO ruling would adjust existing boundary lines and remove Seal Beach from the area where the wall meanders into the city.

Tired of disputing responsibility for the crumbling Rossmoor Wall, the city of Los Alamitos decided it would be easier to kick the wall out of town. So it did. This week, the City Council directed its staff to move the city limits 18 inches to the east, to ensure that the five-foot brick wall that snakes around homes in unincorporated Rossmoor is no longer its concern. The wall, it seems, needs about $100,000 worth of repairs since the Landers and Northridge earthquakes.

When a 100-foot section of brick wall around this community crumbled during an earthquake last summer, it tumbled into a political no-man's-land. The key question is: Who owns the wall? Nobody, it seems. Neither the county nor the Rossmoor Community Services District will claim responsibility for the wall surrounding this unincorporated community of about 10,000.

On a map, Orange County's dozen or so unincorporated communities resemble the missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle--jagged, meandering chunks of suburbia that, for reasons ranging from fierce community loyalty to a love of horses, have remained outside any city's limits. For years, many residents fought to preserve this separateness, which they believe fosters a small-town atmosphere. To them, it is also a source of pride and comfort. But times are changing.

It is an island of unincorporated land in a sea of cities, a distinctive neighborhood that seems to define suburbia with its customized homes set back from the street by large expanses of well-tended lawns. It is Rossmoor, the largest developed community in North County not included in any city's boundaries. Nestled between Seal Beach and Los Alamitos on the border with Los Angeles County, the 30-year-old community has managed to hang on to something it considers important--its own identity.